Genesis 24

AND Abraham was old Being one hundred and forty years old, by comparing Gen. 21. 5. with Gen. 25. 20., and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things:

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house viz. Eliezer, Gen. 15. 2., that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh A ceremony used in swearing as now, so antiently in the Eastern parts, as Gen. 47. 29. Either as a testimony of subjection, and promise of faithful service, for this rite was used only by inferiours towards superiours; or, as some think, with respect to the blessed seed, Christ, who was to come out of Abrahams thigh, as the phrase is Gen. 46. 26. because this rite was used only to Believers.:

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the Earth, that, thou shalt not take a wife unto my son (i. e.) Not persuade nor engage my Son to take; for Isaac though forty years old, was not only willing to be governed by his Father in this affair, but also to hearken to the counsel of this wise and faithful servant, of whom both his Father and himself had such long and large experience. of the daughters of the Canaanite For he kn... w that they were not only gross Idolaters and hainous sinners, for so many others were; but that they were a People under Gods peculiar curse, Gen. 9. 25. and devoted to extirpation and utter destruction, which was to be inflicted upon them by Abrahams Posterity: And therefore to marry his Son to such persons had been an high degree of self-murder, whereby the holy and blessed Seed had been in danger of great infection from them and utter ruine with them. And Abraham's practise was afterwards justified by God, who has oft showed his dislike of such unequal matches of his People with those Infidels and Idolaters by severe prohibitions and sharp censures. See Exod. 34. 16. Deut. 7. 3. Ios. 23. 12. Esd. 9. 1, 2, 3. Nehem. 13. 23, 25. 2 Cor. 6. 14, 15. among whom I dwell.

But thou shalt go unto my Countrey (i. e.) Mesopotamia, ver. 10. which being largely taken for the Countrey between those two famous Rivers Euphrates and Tigris, from which scituation it has that name, so Chaldaea, whence Abraham came, Gen. 11. 31. and 12. 1. was a part of it., and to my kindred The Family of Nahor, concerning the increase whereof he had received information, Chap. 22. 20, &c. Which he justly preferred before the Canaanites, partly because though they were Idolaters, as appears from Gen. 31. 19, 30, 32, 35. and Ios. 24. 2. yet they did Worship the true God together with Idols, a... may be gathered from ver, 31, 50, of this chapter, and from other places, and therefore there was more hopes of the conversion of one of that Family; and partly because they lived at a great distance from the place where Abraham and his Posterity did and should live, and therefore one of that stock would be more easily disintangled from her Superstition and Idolatry because she was removed from the influences of the evil counsels and examples of her nearest relations; and partly because they were of the race of blessed Shem, and not of cursed Canaan., and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land Note here the prudence and piety of this good man, who before he would take an Oath, does diligently enquire into the nature and conditions of it, and expresly mentioneth that exception, which might seem to be of course supposed in it.; must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest.

And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my son thither again In case she will not come hither, do not thou engage that he shall go thither. Why so? 1. Because there was more danger of infection from his wife and her kindred because of their friendly and familiar and constant converse with him, than from the Canaanites, who were strangers to him, and lived separately from him, and had but little conversation with him. 2. Because the command of God to Abraham to come out of Chaldaea and into Canaan, did extend to his posterity also, whom God would oblige to dwell there as long as they could, that they might live in constant Faith and expectation of the performance of Gods promise in giving this Land unto them. Quest. How could he bring Isaac thither again, where he never was? Answ. 1. Isaac might be said to be there before vertually, or in the Loyns of his Father, as Levi is said to pay Tithes to Melchisedek by Abraham in whose Loyns he was. 2. This again may be referred to the servant, that when he returned again he would not carry Isaac along with them. 3. He might reasonably suppose that Isaac must go once thither to fetch his Wife, (for her coming so suddenly to him was an unexpected thing) but he would not have him promise, that when he had done so once, he should go thither again to live there with her..

The LORD God of heaven which took me from my Fathers house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land, he shall send his angel before thee To direct and succeed thee in this enterprize. Compare Exod. 14. 19. and 23. 20., and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence I doubt not of the success. He might say so, either by rational conjecture both from the nature of the thing, and from the constant course of Gods Providence blessing him in all his concerns; or by particular assurance and inspiration from God..

And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath From the obligation of this oath, and from the penalties of the violation of it.: only bring not my son thither again.

And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed, (for all the goods of his master were in his hand (i. e.) In his power to take without particular orders what he thought fit and necessary either for his own use, or for the promotion of the present business.) and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the City of Nahor Which was Haran, by comparing Gen. 28. 10. and 29. 4..

And he made his camels to kneel down without the city, by a well of water, at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness Or, Mercy. He makes no mention of himself, nor of the merits of his master, but he ascribes even temporal blessings, and much more eternal Salvation, merely to Gods mercy. unto my master Abraham.

Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water.

And let it come to pass That this was not a rash and vain fancy, but a special expectation and confidence wrought in him by Gods spirit appears both by the eminent prudence and godliness of this person, and by the exact correspondency of the event with his prayer, and by parallel examples, as Iudg. 6, 36. 1 Sam. 6. 7. and 14. 8. that the damsel to whom I shall say, let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink, and she shall say, drink, and I will give thy camels drink also, let the same be she that thou hast appointed Heb. evidently pointed out: or exactly searched out, as a person meet for him. for thy servant Isaac, and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.

And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abrahams brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder According to the manner of the first and purest ages of the World, wherein humility and diligence, not, as in this degeneration of the World, Pomp and Idleness, were the Ornaments of that Sex and Age. See Gen. 18. 6. and 29. 9, 19, 20. Exod. 2. 16. Prov. 31. 27..

And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her (i. e.) She was a Virgin not only in Title and show, but in Truth, for no man had known her, i. e. corrupted her.: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me (I pray thee) drink a little water of thy pitcher.

And she said, drink my Lord For his retinue showed him to be a person of more than ordinary quality.; and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

And the man wondring at her (i. e.) At the wonderful providence of God and the eminent answer of his prayer., held his peace, to wit, that he might know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous, or not.

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking; that the man took (i. e.) Gave to her, as that word of taking, or receiving is oft used, as Gen. 12. 19. Exod. 18. 12. and 29. 25. Psal. 68. 18. compared with Eph. 4. 8. a golden earring So the word signifies, Gen. 35. 4. Exod. 32. 2, 3. Or jewels for the forehead, which hung down from the forehead to the nose, or between the eyes. So the word is used, ver. 47. Ezek. 16. 12. of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands, of ten shekels weight of gold.

And said Or, For he had said: For it is probable he enquired who she was before he gave her those presents., whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy fathers house for us to lodge in?

And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah So she signifies that she was Nahors Daughter not by his Concubine, but by his lawful and principal Wife., which she bare unto Nahor:

She said moreover unto him, we have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD Giving thanks to God for his marvellous assistance hitherto, and begging the continuance of his presence and blessing..

And he said, blessed be the LORD God of my Master Abraham; who has not left destitute my master of his mercy, and his truth (i. e.) Who has showed his mercy in promising all manner of blessings, and his truth in performing his promises at this day. Or it is a figure called Hendyadis, for true mercy, q. d. he has not only been kind to him in show and in words but in real and considerable effects.: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my masters brethren (i. e.) Near Kinsmen, as that word is commonly used, as ver. 48. and Gen. 13. 8. Mark 3. 31, 32..

And the damsel ran, and told them of her mothers house Not, of her Fathers house; either because her Father was now dead, and Bethuel, who is hereafter mentioned, was not L... bans Father, but his Brother so called: Or because the Women had distinct appartiments in the houses, and she went first thither according to her custom. these things.

And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban, and Laban ran out unto the man unto the well.

And it came to pass, when he saw the earring, and bracelets upon his sisters hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man, and behold he stood by the camels at the well.

And he said, Come in thou blessed of the LORD (i. e.) Whom God has so eminently favoured and blessed., wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

And the man came into the house, and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the mens feet that were with him Of which custom, see Gen. 18. 4..

And there was set meat before him, to eat: but he said, I will not eat untill I have told mine errand. And he said, speak on.

And he said, I am Abrahams servant.

And the LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he is become great; and he has given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and camels, and asses.

And Sarah my masters wife bare a son to my master when she was old, and unto him has he given all that he has (i. e.) Has purposed and promised, and does by me engage that he will give. Things are oft said to be done, in Scripture language, when they will certainly and shortly be done..

And my master made me swear, saying, thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whole land I dwell.

But thou shalt go unto my Fathers house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk In Obedience to all his commands, and in hearty trust in his promises and gracious providence towards me and mine., will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my fathers house.

Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath Heb. from my curse, denounced against thee if thou shouldst violate thine oath. The words oath and curse are oft-times indifferently used because they commonly go together, and sometimes they are both expressed, as Numb. 5. 21., when thou comest to my kindred, and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.

And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go (i. e.) The design or course in which I am ingaged: as the word way is frequently used..

Behold, I stand by the well of water, and it shall come to pass, that when the Virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink.

And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman, whom the LORD has appointed out for my masters son.

And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder, and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

And I asked her First he asks who she was, then he gives the gifts to her: Which is the right order and is here observed in the repetition. which was inverted in the first relation, ver. 22, 23., and said, whose daughter art thou? and she said, the daughter of Bethuel Nahors son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the ear-ring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way, to take my masters brothers daughter unto his son.

And now if ye will deal kindly and truly If you will show true kindness and real friendship to him in giving your daughter to his son. with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left (i. e.) That I may look out a wife for him elsewhere. It is a proverbial expression, Numb. 20. 17. and 22. 26. Deut. 2. 27..

Then Laban and Bethuel Laban is put first, either because this Bethuel was not his Father but his younger Brother, as Iosephus thinks; or because Laban was the chief manager of this business, to whom his Father seems to have committed the care of his Family being himself unfit for it through age or infirmity. answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD From Gods counsel and special providence. Hereby it appears they had the Knowledge and Worship of the true God among them, though they added Idols to him.: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good We cannot without opposing God speak or act any thing which may hinder thy design or thwart thy desires. Compare Gen. 31. 24, 29. 2 Sam. 13. 22..

Behold, Rebekah is before thee (i. e.) In thy power and disposal; as this phrase is taken Gen. 20. 15. and elsewhere., take her, and go, and let her be thy masters sons wife, as the LORD has spoken.

And it came to pass, that when Abrahams servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the Earth.

And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother, and to her mother precious things The precious fruits of the Land from which he came. See Deut. 33. 13, &c. or in general, other rare and excellent things. In those days men gave portions for their wives, as now they have portions with them..

And they did eat and drink, he, and the men that were with him, and tarried all night: and they rose up in the morning, and he said, send me away unto my master.

And her brother and her mother said, let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten Others thus, a year, or at the least ten months, the word days being put for a year, as elsewhere. But it is very improbable that they would demand or expect such a thing from this man whom they saw bent so much upon expedition., after that she shall go.

And he said unto them, hinder me not, seeing the LORD has prospered my way: send me away, that I may go to my master.

And they said, we will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth (i. e.) Understand her mind by her words, not so much concerning the marriage it self, in which she resigned up her self to the disposal of her Parents and Friends, and to which she had given an implicit consent by her acceptance of those presents which were made to her for that end; as concerning the hastiness of her departure..

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse Deborah, by comparing chap. 35. 8. In this corrupt Family the Mother and the Nurse are two distinct persons, but in Abrahams pious Family there was no such principle or practise. See Gen. 21. 7., and Abrahams servant; and his men.

And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister (i. e.) Our near Kinswoman, distance of place shall not alienate our affections from thee, but we shall still own thee as our sister, and, as far as we can, be ready to perform all the duties of brethren to thee., be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possesse the gate of those which hate them.

And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi, for he dwelt in the south-country In the Southern part of Canaan, as Gen. 12. 9. at Beersheba whither, it seems, Abraham returned after Sarahs death.

And Isaac went out to meditate To converse with God and with himself by pious and profitable thoughts and ejaculations, and fervent prayers, as for other things, so particularly for Gods blessing upon this great affair, and so his prayers are eminently answered. in the field He chuseth a solitary place, wherein he might more freely attend upon God without any interruption or distraction. at the even-tide That as he had begun the day with God, so he might close it with him, and commit himself to his protection. Compare Psal. 55. 17.: and he lift up his eyes, and saw, and behold, the camels were coming.

And Rebekah lift up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel As a testimony of her respect to him whom by the servant she understood to be her Lord and Husband. Compare Ios. 15. 18. 1 Sam. 25. 23..

For she had said unto the servant, what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered her self In token of modesty, reverence, and subjection. See Gen. 20. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 10..

And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarahs tent Partly to give her possession of it, and partly to consummate the Marriage. Women then had their tents apart from Men. See Gen. 18. 10. and 24. 67. and 31. 33., and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her, and Isaac was comforted after his mothers death A sorrowful sense whereof he yet had retained though she died three years before this time..